Phil Law, a former Marine from Jacksonville, has filed to challenge incumbent Congressman Walter B. Jones in the Third Congressional District GOP primary election. (Source: www.law4congress.com)

RALEIGH, NC (WECT) -

Two men have signed up to challenge veteran Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC3) in the March 15 Republican primary election.

Taylor Griffin filed at the State Board of Elections on Wednesday. Griffin ran against Jones in 2014, coming up short in the GOP primary by less than 3,000 votes. Griffin worked in the Treasury Department under former President George W. Bush and staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He lives now in New Bern, and runs a public policy consulting firm.

“I’ve received an incredible outpouring of support since I declared my candidacy in July,” Griffin said in an email news release. “Meeting the challenges our nation faces will require fresh ideas and bold action guided by conservative principles. Instead of returning a career politician to Washington for a twenty-second year, it’s time to elect a new generation to represent eastern North Carolina.

Phil Law of Jacksonville also filed as a candidate in the Third Congressional District. According to his website, Law is a former Marine who saw combat missions in Iraq. He now works as a computer technician for a defense contractor.

“I’m running for Congress because I care about the future of my children and yours,” is a statement attributed to Law on his campaign website. “We can’t go on building more and more bureaucracy like Obamacare, we can’t keep kicking the can down the road with regard to the national debt, and we can’t destroy the free market economy that made America unique and great.”

Jones is a ten-term member of Congress from Farmville. After defeating Griffin in the 2014 primary, Jones defeated Democratic challenger Marshall Adame by a 67-33 percent margin. Jones’ campaign has not said when he plans to file for re-election.

Joseph Cina, a former WPD officer and NHC Sheriff's Lieutenant, says he plans to run for Pender County Sheriff in 2018. (Source: Joseph Cina)

Joseph A. Cina, who has law enforcement experience with the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said in a news release that he plans to run for Sheriff in Pender County in 2018, to succeed the retiring Sheriff Carson Smith.

Joseph A. Cina, who has law enforcement experience with the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said in a news release that he plans to run for Sheriff in Pender County in 2018, to succeed the retiring Sheriff Carson Smith.

Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC 7) talks with WECT about the competing tax reform bills in Congress, and his take on allegations of misconduct brought against members of the House and Senate. (Source: WECT)

Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC 7) on Monday said if sexual misconduct allegations leveled against members of Congress are true, those members should step down from their seats. The second-term congressman also said if similar allegations are true against Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, Rouzer believes Moore should remove himself from next month’s special election.

Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC 7) on Monday said if sexual misconduct allegations leveled against members of Congress are true, those members should step down from their seats. The second-term congressman also said if similar allegations are true against Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, Rouzer believes Moore should remove himself from next month’s special election.

Voter turnout was up in nearly all Wilmington-area counties in 2017, compared to municipal races in 2015.

Voter turnout for the 2017 Municipal Elections increased in nearly all counties in the Wilmington area, according to results posted on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website late Tuesday night. The biggest increases came in New Hanover and Pender counties.

Voter turnout for the 2017 Municipal Elections increased in nearly all counties in the Wilmington area, according to results posted on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website late Tuesday night. The biggest increases came in New Hanover and Pender counties.